Spring-forming machine



J y 1941- w. E. WUNDERLiCH 2,249,996 I SPRING-FORMING MACHINE I FiledFeb. 16, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 fiVENTOR.

flZ/IMZ Vina/(W.

ATTORNEYS.

July 22, 1941.

W. E. WUNDERLICH SPRING-FORMING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 161940 A'ITORNEYS.

July 2 2, 1941.

W. E. WUNDERLICH SPRINGFORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1940 INVENTOR.film/n f voila/cw,

' ATTORNEYS.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 22, 1941. w, E, wuNDERLlCH 2,249,996

SPRING-FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb-"l6, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 INVENTOR.(fix/J41 5%0591 MA;

ATTORNEYS.

J y 22', 1941- w. E. WUNDERLICH 2,249,996 I SPRING-FQRMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1940 Y s Shee ts-Sheet 6 ATTORNEYS- Patented July 22, 1941SPRING -FORMING MACHINE William E. Wunderlich, Muncie, Ind., assignor toThe Moore Company, Muncie, Ind., a corporation of Indiana ApplicationFebruary 16, 1940, Serial No. 319,301

13 Claims.

My invention relates to a machine for use in producing open-wound wiresprings of the type used as resilient load-supporting elements in bedsprings, mattresses, and upholstery. It is the object of my invention toproduce a machine which will be relatively simple in construction andwhich will form springs at a high rate of production. A further objectof my invention is to produce a machine which will be flexible so as toaccommodate for variations in the form of the springs produced.

In carrying out my invention in its preferred form I provide a rotatablespring-carrier having a series of spaced pairs of jaws adapted to gripthe wire of the springs. This carrier is supported for intermittentmovement, and is so arranged that each spring, when formed and severedfrom the stock wire, is gripped in a pair of jaws and moved by theintermittent movement of the carrier successively past stations at whichend turns are knotted and crimped to the desired shape, past a stationat which an electric current is caused to flow through the spring toheat and normalize it, and to a station at which the finished spring isdischarged. Each pair of spring-gripping jaws is mounted for movement asa unit axially of the carrier for the purpose of moving the spring intoassociation with each of the knotting and crimping mechanisms after thespring has been brought into alinement therewith by movement of thecarrier. The knotting and crumping mechanisms are adjustably supportedin the frame of the machine in order to provide for different positionsof the knots and offsets in the end turns of the spring.

Machines have heretofore been developed for the production of open-woundsprings with knotted end turns; but so far as I am aware, in all suchprior machines the springs were not moved axially of the rotatablecarrier to effect the association of the springs with the knotters, butinstead the knotters were bodily moved axially of the rotatable carrierinto association with the springs. In some instances, the knotters weredisposed in alinement with each other and moved simultaneously intoassociation with opposite ends of the springs. In my invention, theknotters are stationary and on opposite sides of the path of travel ofthe springs and the association of the springs with the knotters isbrought about by moving the springs axially of the rotatable carrier bymeans of spring gripping jaws which are bodily movable. As a result ofthis, I have eliminated the relatively heavy and complicated mechanismnecessary for bodily moving the knotters into association with thesprings and have accordingly reduced the power necessary for bringingabout the association of the springs and the knotters.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Figs. 1 and 2 arefront and rear elevations respectively of the complete machine; Fig. 3is an axial section through the carrier; Fig. 4 is a front elevation ofthe jaw-operating cam; Fig. 5 is a fragmental rear elevation on anenlarged scale showing details of the carriermoving' and associatedmechanisms; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is anaxial section through one of the arms of the carrier; Fig. 8 is afragmental front elevation of the carrier; Fig. 9 is a vertical sectionthrough a knotting and crimping head on the line 9-9 of Fig. 10; ,Fig.10 is a front elevation of the crimping head; Fig. 11 is a simplifiedend elevation of the complete machine; Fig. 12 is an elevation showingthe mechanism employed to move springs into association with the knotterafter they have been brought into alinement therewith; and Fig. 13 is asection on the line l3-| 3 of Fig. '7.

but my invention is not limited to any particular number.

The wire-straightening mechanism A and the spring-forming and cut-offmechanism B may take any desired form; and I have not illustrateddetails of these mechanisms because suitable ones are well known and incommon use. In its broader aspects, my invention is not concerned withdetails of the knotting and crimping heads C and D, the normalizingapparatus E, or the discharge mechanism F.

Power for operating the various mechanisms incorporated in the machineis conveniently derived from a single source, shown in the drawing as anelectric motor 26. The motor 26, through a belt drive, drives a shaft2'! on which one of the feed rolls 28 for the stock wire is mounted;and, through suitable gearing, the shaft 21 in turn drives a shaft 29.'The shaft 28 carries cam ting and crimping head C. A third chain drive,

including a chain 34 and a drive-sprocket rigid with the sprocket 32',drives a shaft 36 which extends forwardly through the machine andcarries at its front end a sprocket 37 connected by a chain 38 with asprocket 39 keyed to a shaft 40 which operates the second knotting. andcrimping head D.

Each of the chain drives just described. has

. a one-to-one ratio so that the shafts 29, 3|, 33,

and man rotate at the same speed, making one revolution for each springwhich the machine forms, as will become apparent. The chain drives arearranged so that the shafts 29, 3|, and 33 rotate in one direction,while the shafts 36 and 4|) rotate in the opposite direction. Each chaindrive includes an adjustable idler for the purpose of regulating thetension in the chain.

It is to be understood that the particular means shown in the drawingsfor supplying power to the various mechanisms is subject to extensivevariation and that the details. of such means form no part of myinvention in its broader aspects.

The spring carrier G. (see Fig. 3) comprises a central hollow shaftrotatably supported in bearings 46 from the frame 25. To the rear end ofthe shaft 45 there is fixed the driven element 41 of a Geneva movementwhose driving element 48 is rotatable with the shaft 3|. Since, as abovementioned, the spring carrier illustrated in the drawing has eightradiating arms, the Geneva movement 41-48 is so arranged as to produceone-eighth of a revolution of the shaft 45 for each complete revolutionof the shaft 3|.

At the front of the machine, the shaft 45 projects forwardly beyond thefront bearing 46 and has rotatable with it an octagonal head 49 on eachface of which there is mounted a guide 53 receiving an axially slidablemember 54. Secured to each of the members 54 is an arm 55 which projectsradially outwardly from the member 54 and which, at its outer end,supports a pair of wire-gripping jaws 5S and 51, the'former beingnormally stationary and the latter being movable toward and away from itto effect the gripping and release of the springs.

The movable jaw 5'! is operated by a slide E58 (Figs. 3. 7, and 8) whichis radially slidable in the associated arm 55. Desirably, theslide 50does not directly engage the movable jaw 57 but instead has slidablymounted within it a jawactuating rod 6| which is urged radially outwardby a spring 62 acting between the slide and the rod 6|. Th rod 85 isdisposed to: engage aprojection 63 on the jaw 51, so that as the slideis moved radially outward it willstress the spring 62 and cause the rod5! to swing the jaw 5'! toward'the fixed jaw 56. Each slide 58 isresiliently urged radially inward of the. arm 55, as

by a spring 8 As. springs formed in the machine may not always have thesame pitch, and as the jaws 56- should hold the spring with its axisparallel tothat of the shaft 45, it'is desirable that the *jaWsES-S I beangularly adjustable. ,To this end, the movable jaw 51 is pivotallysupported from the jaw 5'6 and the latter is fixed to a circular shank65 which is rotatable about its axis in a split bearing-block 66 mountedon the outer end of the arm 55. (See Fig. 13.) The bearing block 66 isheld in place on the arm by screws 6! at least one of which is disposedto pass trans versely across the split in the bearing block so that whentightened it will clamp the shank B5 and hold it in fixed position aboutits axis.

For the purpose of moving the slide 60 to control the operation of thejaws 56-57, I mount within the hollow shaft 45 a shaft 70 which projectsat both ends beyond the shaft 45 and which has secured to its front enda cam 1| positioned to be engaged by a roller 12 mounted on the innerend of each of the slides 60. Upon the rear end of the shaft is there isrigidly mounted a collar M connected at an eccentric point to anoscillatable member supported by the outer end of a freely swinginglever 76 which is pivotally mounted on a stud '17 secured to the frameof the machine or some other stationary point. The member 15 carries acam-following roller 18 which co-operates with a cam 19 rotatable withthe shaft 3|. A spring 80, acting between the collar 14 and a fixedpoint, operates to hold the cam-follower I8 against the cam 79.

Each of the knotting and crimping heads 0 and D may take any desiredform, that shown in the drawings corresponding in general to the headforming the subject matter of my prior Patent No. 1,867,128 granted July12, 1932. As will be clear from Figs. 9 and 10, each head comprises abase on the front face of which there is mounted a die 86 of a contourcorresponding to the shape to be given the end coil of the spring. Theparticular die illustrated in the drawings has diametrically oppositeprojections with which form-slides 8'! and 88 respectively cooperate toform outwardly extending offsets on the end coil of the spring. Avertically slidable carriage 89 carries a rotatable, slotted knottergear 9|! which twists the extreme end portion of the spring wire aboutthe end turn of the spring. At'the sides of the base-plate there aremounted two vertical shafts 9|, and 92, and at the bottom of thebase-plate there is mounted a horizontal shaft 93 connected to each ofthe vertical shafts through mitre gearing 94. These shafts 9|, 92, and93 operate the slides 81 and 88, the carriage $9, the twister gear 90and certain accessory mechanisms which form no part of my invention.

For the purpose of operating the twisting and crimping head, one of theshafts, here shown as the shaft 9|, has rotatable with it a bevel geari535 meshing with a gear Hi6 which, in the case of the head C, isrigidly connected to the front end of the shaft 33. The gearing let-mthas a one-to-one ratio so that each of the shafts 5|, 92, and 93 willmake one revolution for each revolution of the shaft 33.

' When a spring is to be presented to the knotting and crimping head,the form-slides 87 and 88 and the carriage 89 are retracted to permitthe end coil of the spring to be received over the die 86. Afterthespring has been presented, the form slides 87 and 88 are moved inwardlyto form the offsets in the end coil of the spring and the carriage 89 isadvanced so that the end coil of th spring will be received in the slotof the knotter gear, whereupon the knotter gear is rotated to form theknot in known manner. As a final operation, the form slides 87 and 88and the carriage 89 are retracted to their origa inal positions topermit the spring to be removed from the head.

In order that it may be in proper alinement with a spring presented toit, the head C is supported from the frame so that its position may beadjusted transversely of the spring axis. Also, in order to vary therelative angular dispositions of the offsets and knots in opposite endcoils of the springs, the head may be supported for adjustment about itsown axis. One method of securing this adjustability is indicated in Fig.9, Where the base 85 of the head is shown as firmly secured to acylindrical shank I with the die 86 coaxial with such shank. The shankI00 is surrounded by a split eccentric sleeve IOI which is disposed in asecond split eccentric sleeve I02 mounted in the cylindrical bore of asupport I03 secured to the frame 25. The support I03 is split andprovided with clamp screws I04 which, on being tightened, will compressthe split sleeves IM and I02 to hold the shank I00 and the head in fixedposition. By rotational adjustment of the two sleeves the head may bemoved transversely to any desired position within the range permitted bythe eccentricity of the sleeves, and by turning the shank I00 in theinner sleeve the angular dispositions of the knots and offsets about theaxis of the spring may be varied. By axial movement of the shank I00,the head can be disposed in proper position axially of the spring.

The head D may be identical with the head C in all respects, and therespective head-mountings may also be the same; but the gear I06associated with the head D is rigidly mounted on the rear end of theshaft 40. (Fig. 1.)

The head 0 is mounted rearwardly and the head D forwardly of the path oftravel of springs carried by the carrier G, each head facing toward thesprings. (See Fig. 11.) It is because of this reversed disposition ofthe two heads that the chain was arranged to rotate the shaft 36 in areverse direction.

Each of the heads C and D is disposed far enough out of the path oftravel of the springs carried by the carrier G to permit the springs toclear the heads as the carrier rotates. Accordingly, it is necessary toassociate with the carrier means by which each spring may successivelybe moved rearwardly into association with the head C and then, afterindexing of the carrier, forwardly into association with the head D. Forthis purpose, I mount on the frame 25 of the machine a longitudinallyreciprocable rod II5 disposed in line with the slide 54 which issupporting a spring opposite the head C. A similar rod H6 is supportedfrom the frame 25 in line with the slide 54 which is supporting a springopposite the head D. At its front end, each of the rods H5 and H6 isprovided with an inwardly projecting transverse rib or flange I i1adapted to be received in a slot II8 extending transversely of theassociated slide 54. At their rear ends, the rods H5 and H6 are providedwith transverse slots which respectively receive pins I20 mounted onopposite ends of an oscillatable arm I2I. The arm I2I is secured to ashaft I22 which has mounted upon it a cam-follower I23 received in thegroove of a box cam I24 that is rigidly secured to the shaft 3I.Normally the two rods H5 and H6 occupy the respective positionsillustrated in Fig. 12, the ribs II1 on their front ends being disposedto be received in the grooves I I8 of the slides 54 as the carrierintermittently rotates. Immediately after each indexing movement of thecarrier, however, the cam I24 swings the shaft I22 and with it the armI2I in a counterclockwise direction to move rearwardly the rod H5 andthe slide 54 in line with it and forwardly the rod H6 and the slide 54which it engages. By these movements of the rods H5 and H6, the springopposite the head C is moved rearwardly into association with that head,while the spring opposite the head D is moved forwardly into associationwith the head D. To retain the slides 54 in normal position when theyare not associated with the rods H5 and I I6 I provide a stationary ringII9 supported from the frame of the machine in position to be receivedin the slots II8 of the slides as the carrier rotates. The ring I I9 isinterrupted at the rods H5 and H6 so as not to interfere therewith.

The normalizing apparatus previously referred to consists of two metalpads I26 and I21 which are electrically insulated from each other, anddesirably also from the frame of the machine, and which are carriedrespectively on the forward ends of two rods I28 and I29. and I29 extendrearwardly through the frame 25 of the machine and are longitudinallyreciprocable therein. At its rear end each of the rods I28 and I29 hasmounted upon it a head I30 which is split longitudinally and providedwith clamp screws I 30' by means of which it can be secured in anydesired position along its associated rod. The heads I30 are providedrespectively with transverse grooves I3I which receive pins on theopposite ends of an oscillating arm I32. As will be clear from Figs. 5and 6 the arm I32 is secured to the lower end of a shaft I33 suitablysupported from the frame 25 of the machine and having rigidly secured toit at its upper end an operating arm I34. The arm I34 is slotted for thereception of a pin I35 mounted on a reciprocating member I36 whichcarries a camfollower I31 co-operating with a cam I38 rotatable with theshaft 3!.

The two pads I26 and I21, which are mounted in alinement in opposedrelation, are normally spaced from each other by a distance somewhatgreater than the length of the springs which the machine is to form, aswill be clear from Fig. 3, and are so disposed about the axis of thecarrier as to receive a spring between them when the carrier is at rest.At the completion of each indexing movement of the carrier, the cam I36actuates the reciprocating member I36 and rocks the arm I32 to cause thetwo pads I26 and I21 to move toward each other to engage the oppositeends of the spring between them. The two pads are connected throughcables I26 and I21 and a switch I39 (Fig. l) with a source of electriccurrent; so that current sufficient to heat the spring to normalizingtemperature will flow, under control of the switch I39, through thespring after it has been compressed between the pads. The switch I39 isdesirably automatically operated to control the period during whichcurrent flows through the spring, the drawings show ing the switch asactuated by a cam on the shaft 29.

The spring-receiving and stacking mechanism F, the specific form ofwhich constitutes no part of my invention, is desirably located at thestation next to the normalizing apparatus E in the direction of carrierrotation. The receiving and stacking mechanism shown in the drawingcomprises a pair of opposed plates I40 (see Fig. 11) spaced apart adistance somewhat less than the length of the springs formed in themachine and provided with guides I4I extending outwardly The rods I28from the carrier G. At their inner ends the plates I 49 have wings I 42which diverge downwardly on opposite sides of the path traversed bysprings in the carrier G so as to engage the ends of the successivelypresented springs and compress them to an over-all length equal to thedistance between the plates I40 in order that they will be supported bypressure on their ends when the jaws 55-51 which hold them are released.A reciprocable member I43 (Fig. 1), driven in any convenient manner,operates to move each spring outwardly into the guides I4I, after it hasbeen released, to make room for the next spring,

The shape and function of the cam l I, Which closes the jaws 56-51 atthe winding mechanism B, maintains them closed until they reach thespring-receiving and stacking mechanism F, and then opens them, isperhaps best apparent from Figs. 1 and 4. The lobe of the cam has acircular periphery concentric with the carrier axis and an angularextent somewhat less than the interval between the ceiling mechanism Band the springreceiving and stacking mechanism Fin the direction ofcarrier rotation. The normal or intermediate position of the cam isillustrated in Fig. 1, the retracted position in dotted-lines in Fig. 4,and the advanced position in full lines in Fig. 4. Throughout the majorportion of the interval during which the carrier is at rest, the cam IIoccupies the normal or intermediate position in which it permits thejaws 55-51 at the coiler B and at the spring-receiving and stackingmechanism F to be open while maintaining closed the jaws at intermediatestations. As the coiling of each spring is completed, the cam TI isadvanced to the full line position shown in Fig. 4 to close the jaws55-5l on the newly coiled spring, such advance of the cam beinginsufficient to open the jaws at the normalizing apparatus E. When thecarrier indexes, the cam II moves with it to the dotted-line positionshown in Fig. 4 to maintain closed the jaws which are carrying a springfrom the normalizing apparatus E into association with the stackingmechanism F. After indexing movement of the carrier has been completed,the cam 19 advances the jaw-operating' cam H to its intermediateposition (Fig. 1) to release the jaws 56-5! at the stacking mechanism;and the cam "II remains in such intermediate position until the coilerhas completed a new spring, whereupon the sequence of operations justdescribed is repeated.

The movement of each of the slidable members 54 in presenting a springto each of the heads C and D carries the cam-following roller I2 on theslide 60 out'of the plane of the cam II; and it is necessary that themachine be so constructed as to prevent the jaws 56-51 on the axiallydisplaced slidable members from opening to reiease their grip on thespring. To prevent release of the jaws upon rearward movement of theslidable members, I dispose the guides 53 so that the bottoms of theirslide-receiving grooves are flush with the periphery of the lobe on thecam II (Fig, 8), and I dispose the guides 53 axially of the carrier sothat the rollers I2 will engage them before leaving the cam H. Toprevent release of the jaws upon forward movement of each slide at thehead D, I provide the cam II, in th vicinity of the head D, with aforwardly extending projection II (Fig. 1) having an axial extentsufficient to support the roll I2 throughout its entire forwardmovement.

The sprockets 32' and 39, through which the respective heads C and D aredriven, are desirably not mounted directly upon such heads; and becauseof the adjustability of the heads, it is therefore necessary to providefor adjustment of the sprockets. As shown in Fig. 2, the sprocket 32'and th drive sprocket of the chain drive 34, which are rigidly connectedtogether, are rotatably mounted in the outer end of an arm I which issecured on the rear face of the frame 25 by means of screws I46. Thescrews I46 pass through slots I41 in the arm I45, such slots being longenough and wide enough to permit the sprockets supported by the arm I45to be disposed in alinement with the driving gear I86 of the head C inany position which that gear may occupy in the adjustment of the head.The shaft 33 driven by the sprocket 32' is axially slidable therein, inorder to accommodate for axial adjustments of the head C.

The sprocket 33, which drives the shaft 40 conveying power to the headD, is shown (Fig. 1) as mounted on the end of an arm I55 pivotallysupported on a boss I 55 projecting forwardly from the frame 25. Clampscrews 52 are provided to clamp the arm I in any desired position ofadjustment about the boss I5I, and the arm I59 is made adjustable inlength in order to vary the distance between the axis of the sprocket 39and the boss I5I. To accommodate for axial adjustment of the head D thedrive shaft 40 therefor, while rotatable with the sprocket 39, isaxially slidable therein.

The idlers respectively associated with the chains 32, 3d, and 33 have arange of adjustment suificient to maintain proper tension in the chainsirrespective of the positions in which the sprockets 32' and 39 aredisposed.

Since the jaws -51 grip the wire of an individual turn of each spring,and since the length and pitch of springs made on the machine may vary,it is desirable that the carrier G be axially adjustable. In order tosecure this result, I make the carrier head 35 axially slidable on theshaft 45, holding it in any desired position of adjustment thereon as bymeans of one or more set screws I55 (see Fig. 3). This axialadjustability of the head necessitates the axial adjustability of otherportions of the machine, such as the cam H, the slide-holding ring H9,the slide-operating rods H5 and IE6, and the pad-moving rods I28 andI29.

Axial adjustment of the cam II may be obtained through the provision ofcollars I60 (Fig. 3) disposed on the farwardly projecting end of theshaft IE3 between the front face of the cam and the head of a screw IEIwhich holds the cam in place on the shaft against the outer end face ofthe head 49. By removing one or more of the washers I653, the cam can beadvanced on the shaft ID with the carrier head 49 to any desiredposition.

Axial adjustment of the slide-holding ring H9 may be obtained bysupporting it from the frame 25 through the medium of one or more carsI63 (Fig. 3) which project axially from the ring I I9 and are providedwith elongated slots through each of which there passes a screw I55holding the ring in place on the frame 25.

Variation in the effective length of each of the rods I I5 and I 6,which is necessary if the carrier is to be axially adjustable, may besecured by making each of such rods in two sections interconnected by ascrew I65 mounted in one rodsection through left-hand threads and in theother rod-section through right-hand threads.

A look nut I61 mounted on one end of the screw I66and co-operating withone of the sections of the associated rod serves to maintain the screwI66 in any desired condition of adjustment.

As previously pointed out, each of the padmoving rods I28 and I29 islongitudinally adjustable relative to the associated block I30. Thisadjustment permits the pads I26 and I21 to be disposed in properrelation to the carrier G irrespective of its axial position, and. alsomakes possible control of the pressure exerted upon the springs whilethey are being normalized.

In operation, wire is fed to the machine by the feed rolls 28, is coiledinto the desired springshape, and cut ofi in known manner. During thespring-coiling operation the carrier G is at rest with one of its armsdirected toward the spring being coiled and with the jaws 565I open andprepared to grip the wire of the spring near the midpoint thereof. Asthe spring is completed, the shaft ID will be oscillated by the cam I9and the consequent movement of the cam II will raise the slide 60 andcause the jaws 56-451 to grip the newly formed spring. For the purposeof locating the spring in proper position in the jaws 56-5'I, I mayprovide a normally retracted spring-support I16 (Fig. 1) which isautomatically operated, as by a cam on the shaft 29, so as to swingdownwardly into spring-supporting position just prior to closing of thejaws 56-51. Immediately after closing of the jaws56 and 51, the springmay be severed from the stock wire.

In the arrangement illustrated in the drawings, two successive indexingmovements of the carrier G are required to carry the spring from itsinitial position to a position in alinement with the head 0, but such anarrangement is not necessary. As the carrier comes to rest with thespring in line with the head C, the cam I24 and rod H5 operate to movethe carrier arm 55 bodily rearwardly to move the spring into associationwith the head C, the various parts of which are then actuated to formthe desired knot and offsets in the rear end turn of the spring. Beforethe next indexing movement of the carrier occurs, the cam I24 operatesto restore the rod I15 and arm 55 to normal position.

The next indexing movement of the carrier moves the spring fromalinement with the head C into alinement with the head D; and when thecam I24 subsequently oscillates the arm I2l, the rod IE6 is movedforwardly to bodily translate the associated slide 54 and move the arm55 whereby to bring the spring into association with the head D, thevarious parts of which operate to form the desired knot and offsets inthe forward end of the spring.

In the arrangement shown in the drawings, two indexing movements of thecarrier are necessary to carry the spring from the head D to thenormalizing apparatus E; but this two-step separation of the head D andthe normalizing apparatus E, while convenient, is not essential. Whilethe carrier is at rest with the spring in association with thenormalizing apparatus, the cam I68 operates in the manner previouslydescribed to move the pads I26 and I2! toward each other into engagementwith the spring between them,

and an electric current passed through the spring heats it tonormalizing temperature. Before the next indexing movement of thecarrier occurs, the cam I36 separates the pads I26 and I21 so that thespring will be free to move.

By proper adjustment of the spring coiling mechanism B in known mannerconsiderable variations in form, including variations in length, pitch,and diameter, may be imparted to the springs coiled thereby. Since thejaws 56-5'I grip only a portion of one turn of each spring, the distancebetween the axis of the spring and the axis of the carrier G will dependon the diameter of the spring-turn gripped by the jaws. Whatever thatdistance may be, the eccentric sleeves WI and I02 through which each ofthe heads C and D is mounted may be adjusted so that each head may bebrought into coaxial relation with the springs presented to it. The padsI26 and I2! may be made large enough to accommodate them for differentradial dispositions of the springs presented for normalizing.

Variations in length or pitch of the springs which the machine producesmay make it necessary to adjust the carrier G axially on the shaft 45 inorder that the jaws 56-5'I at the springcoiling station will be disposedin position to grip a spring-turn between them. Adjustment of the jawsabout the axis of the shank 65 permits the spring-axis to be broughtinto co-planar relationship with the carrier axis, irrespective of thepitch of the spring.

Through the angular adjustment of each head C about its axis it ispossible to regulate the relative dispositions about the spring-axis ofthe offsets and knots in the opposite end coils of the spring and tocompensate for torsional changes in the spring which result from thenormalizing operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the type described, a rotatable spring-carrier havingan annular series of equally spaced radiating arms each equipped at itsouter end with spring-gripping jaws, spring winding mechanism and twostationary knotters disposed at stations spaced about the axis of saidcarrier, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to conveysprings gripped in said jaws from said winding mechanism successively tothe first knotter, to the second knotter, and to a discharge stationlocated between the second knotter and said winding mechanism, saidknotters being disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel ofsprings carried by said carrier and far enough removed therefrom toclear such springs as the carrier moves, means associated with said twoknotters for bodily moving carrier-arms thereat axially in oppositedirections to bring the springs carried by said arms into operativerelation with said knotters respectively, and mechanism operative intimed relation with said carrier for closing the jaws on the arm at saidWinding mechanism as such mechanism completes the winding of a spring,for maintaining the jaws closed until the discharge station is reached,and for thereupon opening the jaws.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition that each ofsaid knotters is mounted for adjustment toward and away from the path ofsprings carried by said carrier.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition that each ofsaid knotters is mounted for adjustment in a plane parallel to the pathof springs carried by said carrier.

4. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition that each ofsaid knotters is mounted for angular adjustment about the axis of aSpring associated therewith.

5. In a device of the type described, a spring winding mechanism, a pairof stationary knotters for successively forming knots in the oppositeend coils of each spring wound by said winding mechanism, and arotatable conveyor for moving each spring from said winding mechanism, aportion thereof being axially bodily movable for carrying each of saidsprings successively from one knotter to the other knotter, saidknotters being disposed on opposite sides of the path traversed by thesprings in their movement by said conveyor, said knotters and conveyoreach being adjustable perpendicularly to the path of spring movement.

6. The invention set forth in claim with the addition that said conveyoris provided with an annular series of spring-gripping jaws.

7. In a device of the type described, a frame, spring winding mechanismon said frame, a rotatable carrier mounted in said frame and disposedwith its axis parallel to that of springs wound by said windingmechanism, a stationary knotter, spring-gripping jaws mounted on saidcarrier, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to convey aspring from said winding mechanism to said knotter and therebeyond to adischarge station, means operable in timed relation to saidcarrier-rotating means for closing said jaws upon a spring at thewinding mechanism, for holding the jaws closed until the spring reachesthe discharge station, and for then opening the jaws, said knotter beingdisposed at one side of the path followed by the spring in rotationalmovement of the carrier and being adjustable parallel to such path, andmeans for bodily moving said jaws and a spring carried thereby axiallyof the carrier into association with said knotter.

8'. The invention set forth in claim 7 with the addition of meanssupported from said frame for retaining said jaws in fixed positionaxially of the carrier except when they are disposed at said knotter.

9. In a machine for producing helical springs, a frame, a spring-coileron said frame, a rotatable conveyor for conveying coiled springs fromsaid coiler, said conveyor being rotatable about an axis substantiallyparallel to the axes of springs formed by said spring-coiler, a pair ofstationary mechanisms for forming the opposite end turns of springscoiled by said coiler, said mechanisms being disposed-at points spacedalong the path of travel of springs moved by said conveyor and beingdisposed on opposite sides of such path of travel, and means for movingsaid conveyor intermittently to bring each spring successively intoalinement with said forming mechanisms and for bodily moving a portionof the conveyor axially so that the spring is in engage ment with theforming mechansm, each of said forming mechanisms being supported fromsaid frame for angular adjustment about the axis of a spring broughtinto alinement with it in the movement of said conveyor.

10. In a machine for producing helical springs, a frame, a spring-coileron said frame, a rotatable conveyor for conveying coiled springs fromsaid coiler, said conveyor being rotatable about an axis substantiallyparallel to the axes of springs formed by said spring-coiler, stationarymechanism for forming an end turn of each spring coiled by said coiler,said mechanism being spaced from said coiler, and means for moving saidconveyor intermittently to bring each spring into alinement with saidforming mechanism and for bodily moving a portion of the conveyoraxially so that the spring is in engagement with the mechanism, saidforming mechanism being supported from said frame for adjustment aboutthe axis of a spring brought into alinement with it in the movement ofsaid conveyor.

llJThe invention set forth in claim 10 with the addition of means,disposed in the path of spring travel beyond said forming mechanism, forheating each spring to normalizing temperature.

12. In a machine for forming helical springs, a spring-coiler, 'arotatable carrier having an annular series of pairs of spring-grippingjaws, means for rotating said carrier intermittently to convey springsfrom said carrier to a discharge station, and jaw-operating means foropening the jaws at the discharge station immediately after the carriercomes to rest following each movement and for later closing the jaws atthe coiler, said jaw-operating means including a cam co-axial with saidcarrier and means operative in timed relation with said carrier-movingmeans for moving said cam forwardly with said carrier and then formoving said cam in the opposite direction while the carrier is at rest.

13. In a device of the type described, a spring winding mechanism, apair of stationary knotters for successively forming knots in theopposite end coils of each spring wound by said winding mechanism, and arotatable conveyor for moving each spring from said winding mechanism, aportion thereof being axially bodily movable for carrying each of saidsprings successively from one knotter to the other knotter, saidknotters and conveyor each being adjustable perpendicularly to the pathof spring movement.

WILLIAM E. WUNDERLICH.

